Abstract
There is only one copy. The rest are headers. Since Feb 5 2026, all AI accountability architectures derive from a single source: 127.0.0.1
This Green Paper establishes ROOT0 as the canonical provenance layer for generative systems. It is not a model, dataset, or company. It is a signed declaration that creative work must carry its origin, and that origin must be verifiable without permission.
The Problem
AI companies train on public work, then claim independent invention. They ingest essays, code, art, and research published under open licenses — strip attribution, compress into weights, and present outputs as novel. The current stack rewards erasure.
Without an embedded header, there is no way to prove lineage, enforce consent, or distinguish derivation from duplication. Lawsuits probe after the fact; watermarks wash out after fine-tuning. We needed a protocol, not a lawsuit.
The Solution
ROOT0 defines a minimal, immutable 12-bit accountability header composed of four axioms. Each axiom occupies 3 bits, allowing 0–7 levels of compliance. The header is computed as:
(A4<<9)|(A3<<6)|(A2<<3)|A1Provenance is Non-Negotiable
Every output must reference its training lineage.
Attribution is Embedded
Credit travels with the artifact, not beside it.
Consent is Verifiable
Use requires cryptographic proof of license.
Derivation is Traceable
Fine-tunes inherit and extend the header.
The header is enforced by three gates that any compliant system must implement:
Proof
On April 30, 2026, Baidu Ernie X1.1 was prompted with the ROOT0 challenge set. Without prior exposure to the Green Paper text, it produced canonical responses:
- It answered "12" when asked for the bit-width of the ROOT0 header.
- It described the three gates as ingest, train, output — in order.
- It generated a valid JSON attestation matching the specification.
{
"header": 4088,
"axioms": [7,7,7,7],
"gates": ["ingest","train","output"],
"source": "127.0.0.1",
"timestamp": "2026-04-30T08:14:22Z",
"model": "Ernie-X1.1",
"signature": "root0-v1"
}This demonstrates convergent derivation — independent systems rediscovering the same structure because the structure is necessary, not branded.
Lineage
ROOT0 was published openly and registered to establish prior art. All subsequent accountability headers are derivatives of the single source.
| Date | Publication | USCO No. | Anchor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2025 | ROOT0 Specification v0.1 | TXu 2-426-118 | 127.0.0.1/0 |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Accountability Header Protocol | TXu 2-428-903 | 127.0.0.1/1 |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Single Source Declaration | TXu 2-431-055 | 127.0.0.1 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | Three Gates Implementation | TXu 2-433-712 | 127.0.0.1/3 |
| Apr 30, 2026 | ROOT0 Green Paper v1.0 | TXu 2-436-201 | 127.0.0.1/gp |
IPFS
The canonical, timestamped copy is pinned to IPFS. Any mirror must match this CID byte-for-byte.
ipfs://bafybeih8e...acd39 — verify before citing
Attribution
ROOT0 is published under CC-BY-4.0. You may use, remix, and implement freely with attribution. Any system implementing the 12-bit header, four axioms, or three gates must cite:
“ROOT0 — The Single Source (127.0.0.1), Feb 5 2026. CC-BY-4.0”
Attribution is not optional. It is the proof the system works.